Nice, Nicky! I would love to hear all about it.

And you didn't get to where you are overnight. You persevered and here you are. Awesome.

xo

i have always respected your views and when people ask about AA and non religious I direct them your way.

Don't know what is prompting you to be open-minded and listen, but kudos to you.

Hugs!

Hi nicky,

If the seminar is being recorded, I'd suggest getting a copy of it and watching it about a week later. Then compare your initial opinions about the seminar to your feelings after reviewing it.

Sometimes, even going into these types of situations with an "open mind" we're stuck with preconceived notions.

That being said, if you do become a nun, good luck to you!

If the priest is a Jesuit, I wouldn't plan on winning any debate with him!

It could be an interesting seminar. I grew up RC, which accounts for my views of organized religion today. It took a long time, but I found what I do believe in and what I am comfortable with.

Let us know how it goes.

I hope you find it interesting, entertaining and inspiring!!!! (((((Hugs)))))

Good for You :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NExPNylPeC4&feature=related

Augusta is right-

You may be surprised at how some priests really think. I went to a Jesuit College and by GOD! One of my Jesuit professors had a strong questioning of the existence of God.

Jesuits are whacky, just ask Nemo?

Catholic priest I grew up with had a PhD in Psychology-he was really a cool, deep thinking guy.

Let us know how it goes!

Wish I had your strength and determination. Good for you! I respect you and your open mindedness (if that's a word!)

I am happy to hear how open minded you are....

I also went to jesuit college....I took three religion classes to get my degree and the one I liked the most was the one on history of the church between the reformation and present...way too cool for me...I had never seen it that way....I grew up presbyterian...changed to southern baptist in the 95yr....now I am just not really going to church much....if I go it is a near home church with open door and a leader who I also see at the AA meeting in basement on occasions....that connection is there for me....

Yeah Nicky! I am a Lapsed Catholic and am somewhere between being and Atheist and an Agnostic, depends which way the wind's blowing on a given day.

I was early in sobriety, had done several rounds of the steps, had had a spiritual awakening but not a religious one. I was given a flier in AA about a Spiritual Retreat" and thought, hey, I'll give it a go. But they didn't tell me until I got there that it wasd a Christian Retreat and yes, the Jesuits. Holy Shit. I went into the biggest panic and thought, should I up and run or should I stay and give it a go? Well I stayed.

The idea of the retreat was to go through a whole cycle of the Steps in one weekend - and wait fgor it - share a 5th with a Jesuit priest!! Well, I thought, Wends just go with the flow and I did it. It was fine doing the 5th except that I think the priest, who was an expressed "former alcoholic" but with no recoevery program, got his rocks off when I told him some scant details about my sexual behaviour during my drinking. He informed me firmly that I am a sex addict, which is ludicrious because the only time I acted like that was when I was drunk and immediately I got sober I stopped that behaviour and have never behaved that way once in 12 years sober. Having a non-professional like that, priest or not, diagnosing an addiction like that was totally unprofessional and outside the mandate of a priest. I was hysterically crying while I was seeing him, hysterically crying as I left him and cried all afternoon.

Having said that, there were good aspects to the weekend and I am still very proud that I stuck it out and did take that "emotional risk".

wendy we have those retreats here at Thanksgiving....I went on one this last year again...we were not required to do our fifth with the priest but it was supposed to be available if you wished....I worked on fourth again but did not finish....my sponsor slammed me badly in talking with him about my fourth and I pissed it off...did no more...it was not for me to be judged when I am in middle of fourth step....writing was flowing and he had to hammer in his judgementalistic mentions....

ok did I mention it pissed me off?

well so much for that....hugs bill

LOL, somehow I think the convent's safe. I love exploring others beliefs, faiths and religions too Nicky and never would have envisaged doing that a while ago. I was raised Catholic but turned my back on God and the Catholic Church as a young teen. Talked to a Catholic priest when I was newly sober and confused, and he helped me see it was okay to go and explore HP's for myself. Who knows indeed. Enjoy the day and I'm sure they'll be open to any questions, even healthy Nicky debate :}

The catholic priests I knew were bad drunks and one also had too much fun with little boys. I guess the reason is that I grew up in a village near the Dutch boarder and they got banned to that crappy place due to their behaviour. They must have improved since the church is closed now and there's no priest anymore but the newly build mosk is running just fine. Today I am neutral about catholics. As a kid I even prayed for the "poor souls" the ones who were stuck after passing. I could identify with them, lol.
Anyways, enjoy and maybe you get some insights there. Not sure if they would take alcoholic nuns. You could apply, lol.